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As NFL talent evaluators put the finishing touches on their scouting reports for the 2026 draft class, they will look to current pros with similar traits as another data point to project how prospects might perform in the pro game. Most scouts use pro comparisons to paint a picture for NFL decision makers who make the calls when on the clock.
With the 2026 draft approaching, here are my pro comps for the top prospects in this year’s class.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Heisman Trophy winner is a lock to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday. Mendoza has impressed scouts with his intelligence, toughness and leadership skills while showing precision and touch as a rhythm passer. The combination of skill and a winning pedigree makes it easy to envision the Indiana standout thriving as a QB1 for a team that runs a system that prioritizes flawless football and clutch play.
Although Mendoza lacks elite physical tools, his superpowers as a high-IQ game manager can result in better performance and production than his natural talent suggests.
Pro Comparison: Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff
Mendoza is a return to being a pocket passer. It’s worked for former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, who has made five Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The silky smooth pass-catcher checks all the boxes as a potential No. 1 receiver. Tate can impact the game as a three-level playmaker who shows big-play potential as a vertical threat or catch-and-run specialist. Additionally, the Ohio State star displays elite running skills, twisting defenders into knots with his electric stop-start quickness and ballerina-like body control.
With Tate also flashing ridiculous ball skills and body control as an acrobatic pass catcher, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder is a dominant weapon on the edge with “take over the game” potential as a pro.
Pro comparison: Rams WR Davante Adams
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
It’s hard to find a safety with a high IQ, positional flexibility, ball skills and a “hit stick” mentality that enables him to play as a center fielder or hybrid linebacker in a multi-faceted scheme. Downs not only excels as a jack-of-all-trades, but he has mastered the art of playing in a “see ball, get ball” defensive scheme.
While skeptics dismiss his impact potential due to his modest physical attributes, the evaluators who love “ball players” easily identify the game-changing skills the Ohio State star brings to the table. Given how championship-level defenses thrive on a game changer in the middle of the field, Downs’ versatility and adaptability give him a chance to emerge as a star as a designated playmaker in a creative defensive scheme.
Pro comparison: Cardinals S Budda Baker
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The energetic speed rusher took college football by storm during his lone season with the Red Raiders. Bailey terrorized opponents with his speed, quickness and burst as he showcased a “dip-and-rip” maneuver and nifty spin move to harass quarterbacks in the backfield. The constant pressure and constant chaos created by his relentless approach forces offensive coordinators to change their pass protection schemes when faced with the dynamic pass rusher.
As Bailey adjusts to the pro game and the elite pass protectors, the shifty sack artist could produce double-digit sacks annually as a rush specialist.
Pro Comparison: Giants OLB Brian Burns
When David Bailey focused on rushing the pass last season, his game took off. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
[How One Key Question Changed David Bailey’s NFL Future]
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The precise, quick rhythmic passer acts as a coach on the field, with his instincts, awareness and anticipation enabling him to pick apart coverages with surgical precision. Simpson’s flawless pocket mechanics and footwork make him a quarterback coach’s dream at first glance. With his staunchest supporters citing the Crimson Tide’s sizzling start in 2025 and his ridiculous numbers as proof of his franchise quarterback potential, the polarizing quarterback must overcome his inexperience, lack of size and lack of arm talent to defy the odds as a lightweight quarterback.
While teams have played on “rookies” in previous drafts (Mark Sanchez, 2009; Cam Newton, 2011; Kyler Murray, 2019; Trey Lance, 2021; Mac Jones, 2021; and Anthony Richardson, 2023), the disappointing hit rate will require Simpson to play above and beyond his draft-day status. In a league where scheme and play call as much as the supporting cast, Simpson must find his way to a team that has a system that makes the game easier for the quarterback.
Pro Comparison: 49ers QB Brock Purdy
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
After successfully transitioning from safety to linebacker at Ohio State, Styles could flourish as a designated playmaker who dominates the game between the hashes. As a quick-flow linebacker who can stuff running backs in the hole or run with tight ends and slot receivers down the middle, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder displays rare traits as an off-ball linebacker in a passing league.
With his size, length and athleticism to shrink passing lanes down the middle of the field, Styles is a potential difference-maker for a defense that employs a “vision-and-break” scheme designed to create more turnovers.
Pro Comparison: 49ers LB Fred Warner
[Will Ohio State Have Four Top-10 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?]
Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The disruptive edge defender is a violent butt-kicker with heavy hands and a nasty temper. Bain outworks and outlasts blockers, displaying an alpha-dawg mentality reflected in his relentless approach and competitive tenacity. With a rugged game that complements his explosive first step and big effort, the Miami standout is the junkyard dog no one wants to face on a critical down.
In a league where sack production can lead to blind spots for some evaluators, Bain’s energy, effort and physicality make him an important piece in any defensive puzzle.
Pro Comparison: Eagles DE Brandon Graham
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The transformation of the NFL into a pass-centric league has forced coaches and scouts to view the “Nickel” cornerback as the 12th starter. A high-IQ defender with excellent ball skills and a devastating knockout punch (forced fumbles), Terrell is the prototypical slot defender every defensive coordinator covets in the starting lineup.
While some scouts question his top-end speed and explosion, old-school coaches prefer instincts and awareness over athleticism. Terrell’s ability to make plays on the ball and stifle routes as a zone-based coverage corner should result in rave reviews from teams looking for a plug-and-play option on the perimeter.
Pro Comparison: Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey
